Magnetically operated non-scaling valve



May 26, 1959 A. L. JONES ETAL MAGNETICALLY OPERATED NON-SCALING VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

Filed Aug. 18. 1954 ALONZO L. JONES WILLIAM H. DE HAY ////////////l/ I I I I 1 l k l l i 4 IN V EN TORS y 1959 A. L. JONES ETAL )MAGNETICALLY OPERATED NON-SCALING VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18. 1954 ALONZO L. JONES WILLIAM H. DE HAY INVENTORS United States Patent 11 MAGNETICALLY OPERATED NON-SCALING VALVE 1 Alonzo L. Jones, West Orange, N.J., and William H.

De Hay, Woodside, N.Y.

Application August 18, 1954, Serial No. 450,633

\ 3 Claims. 01. 137-528) means of the repelling action of opposed magnets and H the pressure setting mechanism is sealed from contact w1th the fluid controlled by the valve.

' In connection particularly with water treating equipment, the flow of fluid is controlled by a valve which comes in contact with the raw water passing into the water treating equipment. After a period of use scale will form in the valve afliecting the pressure actuated mechanism thereof.

In the present invention novel means for adjusting the pressure setting of the valve are provided in the form of magnets so disposed in the valve that they repel each other to hold the valve closed until the pressure of the fluid'flowing through the valve will open the valve against the repelling action of the magnets and includes for this pressure setting mechanism a seal to prevent contact of this pressure setting mechanism with the fluid being controlled.

With this and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings showing a magnetically operated non-scaling valve of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

. Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a water treating unit showing the invention as applied to the spray valves thereof.

Figure 2' is a vertical section through one of the spray valves showing the invention with magnetic pressure setting means.

.- Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a vertical section taken through a valve showing the invention with spring-pressure setting means.

. .Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

' Figure 7 is a partial vertical section showing a modified form of sealing means.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a fragment of the tank 1 of a water treating unit having a raw water inlet Z'Which delivers water to the water box 3 of the unit. The water box 3 connects with the water treating chamber 4.through spray valves 5 which are adjusted to open at a predetermined pressure setting for the particular type of water treating apparatus. The water is treated in the water treating chamber 4 and then passed to the storage portion of the tank 1 (not shown) in the manner well known in the art for the particular type of water treating apparatus and hence not more fully discussed herein. In addition the treated water is drawn from the tank 1 for use by any suitable means which procedure is also well known in the art and hence not more fully 2 discussed herein as it does not form a part of the present invention.

The present invention is primarily directed to the spray: valves 5 and their operation for controlling the flow of fluid from the water box 3 to the Water treating chamber 4 in this particular application. It will be understood,- however, that while the present invention is shown as applied to a water treating apparatus that it would be equally applicable to any type of apparatus in which the: flow of fluid is to be controlled in a similar manner.

Figure 2 shows a preferred form of the spray valve arrangement 5 in which the valve housing includes a liquid end 6 and a pressure setting end 7. The liquid end is provided with fluid or liquid inlet ports 8 opening thereinto and an outlet 9 which is controlled by a valve disc 10 movable onto and oil the valve seat 11 formed about the outlet 9. The valve disc or head 10 has a' valve stem 11' connected thereto which extends axially through the liquid end 6 upwardly into the pressure setting end 7 where it is attached at its upper end to a first magnet 12 by any suitable manner such as threaded section 13 and nuts 14 and 15. The threaded section 13 and nuts 14 and 15 allow for adjustment of the magnetic element 12 within the desired limits for producing the results as hereinafter described. The magnet'12 is movable within the pressure setting end of the valve housing and it is disposed in parallel relation to a second magnet 16 which is fixedly attached to the pressure setting end of the housing itself. The valve stem 11 extends slidably through this second magnet 16, all of which is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Guide rods 17 are attached to an attaching plate 18 formed as part of the pressure setting end 7 of the valve housing and extend upwardly through the magnet 16 and the magnet 12 through suitable bores 19, 2.0, 21 and 22. These guide rods act to guide the movement of the magnet 12 towards and away from the magnet 16 and to maintain the magnets in repelling alignment. The magnets 12 and 16 are disposed with relation to each other so that their magnetic action will repel one from the other and under normal conditions the magnet 12 will be repelled from the magnet 16 to move the valve head or disc 10 against the valve seat 11 and hold the valve in a closed position. All of the above being clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. It will be understood that while members with magnetic properties are shown and illustrated in the present invention that electromagnets could be used in place thereof without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is desirable to protect the magnets from contact with the liquid flowing through the liquid end of the valve housing as such liquid may be of the type that would adversely alfect the present type of pressure setting means above described or any other type that might be disposed in the pressure setting end 7 of the valve housing. Accordingly, means are provided for sealing the magnets or more properly for sealing the pressure setting end of the valve housing from the fluid flow portion 6 of the housing which sealing means embodies suificient elasticity to permit its stretching in accordance with the movement of the valve disc and the valve stem 10 and 11.

Thus Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings show a sealing means which includes a sleeve or tube 23 formed integrally with a flange 24 at one end. The other end is adapted so that the sleeve will snugly engage about the valve stem 11' in the liquid end of the valve housing and about an annular shoulder 25 formed by the reduced threaded portion 26 continuous with the valve stem. This construction disposes the sealing means between the valve stem 11' and the valve head 10 in assembled position as the valve stem 11' is connected to the valve head 10 by means of the threaded portion 26 axially extending through the valve head 19 and the nut element 27. At the other end the disc or annular flange 24 is secured in fluid tight engagement with the under side of the attaching plate 18 of the pressure setting end 7 of the valve housing by a clamping disc 28 formed on the liquid portion 6 of the valve housing coacting with suitable means such as threaded elements 29 for fastening the flange 24 therebetween. The sealing means will be of any suitable elastic material such as silicone rubber, which has suflicient elasticity to permit the sleeve portion or tube 23 to stretch in accordance with movement of the valve stem and valve head and at the same time will both seal the pressure setting end 7 of the valve housing from the liquid end and will not deteriorate under the chemical action of the liquids passing through the liquid end 6 of the valve housing.

Operation In operation, the magnets 12 and 16 are adjusted relative to each other for the predetermined pressure limits by removing the cover element 30. After the elements are adjusted and set the cover element 30 is replaced.

When the magnets 12 and 16 are adjusted to the desired setting they will normally hold the valve head 10 against the valve seat 11 until the pressure of the fluid acting through the inlets 8 on the valve head 14 will be great enough to overcome the repelling action of the magnets 12 and 16 with respect to each other. When this occurs the valve head or disc 10 will be moved ofl its seat in proportion to the relative forces exerted by the pressure of the water entering through the inlets 8 and the repelling force of the magnets 12 and 16 thereby automatically providing proper opening of the valve head 10 to control the flow of fluid therethrough. The sealing means during the operation of the valve or whenever the valve is closed will at all times act to prevent fluid in the water box or passing thru the inlets S from passing to the pressure setting portion of the valve.

Figure 5 shows a modified form of the present invention in which the magnetic pressure setting means are replaced by the conventional spring adjusting means. Thus the spray valve now generally designated 55 includes a valve housing having a liquid end 56 and a pressure setting end 57.

The liquid end 56 includes fluid inlets 58 and fluid outlet 59 which is controlled by the valve disc or head 60 adapted to move onto and of]? of the valve seat 61 formed about the outlet. The valve disc or head 69 is connected to a valve stem 62 which extends axially upward into the pressure setting end 57 of the valve housing through an attaching plate 63 Disposed about the portion of the valve stem 62 in the pressure setting end 5'7 of the valve housing is a spring 64 which is disposed between the attaching plate 63 and an adjusting nut 65 threadably mounted on this end of the valve stem 62. By adjusting the nut inwardly or outwardly the desired tension or pressure setting of the spring may be secured.

The construction of the sealing means generally designated 66 varies somewhat in size and position in this form of the invention but is otherwise identical with both the structure and operation of the sealing means above described for Figure 2 of the drawings.

The operation is also similar to that of the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 in that the pressure is preset by removing the cover element 67 and adjusting the nut 65 to the desired setting. Fluid entering the inlets 58 will act against the valve head 59 and by the differential pressure between the incoming fluid and the tension on the spring the valve will be automatically opened at the desired pressure setting. The valve will be automatically opened at the desired pressure setting. The valve will be normally closed under any pressure below the desired opening pressure.

Figure 7 of the drawings shows another form of the present invention in which the elastic sealing means is replaced by a sealing means including a metallic bellows 71 having its lower end sealed in fluid tight engagement with the valve stem 72 as at 73 and its upper end integral with an annular flange or disc 74 attached by any suitable means such as welding, soldering or clamping to the outer face of the attaching plate 75 of the pressure setting end 76 of the valve housing. Where a metallic bellows is used it is preferable to weld or bond the lower end of the bellows to the valve stem and the annular flange to the valve housing so as to insure a fluid tight firm connection between the bellows and these elements.

As the valve stem moves in accordance with the movement of the valve disc 77 the bellows 71 will stretch or contract therewith and will act to prevent the leakage of fluid passing through the valve from entering into the pressure setting end 76 of the valve housing.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve structure, a valve housing including a pressure setting end and a fluid end, a plate member mounted in the base of said pressure setting end, said fluid end having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat formed about said outlet port and a valve to engage said valve seat, a valve stem connected to said valve and extending through said plate member into said pressure setting end, a pair of opposed magnets in said pressure setting end, one of said magnets rigidly mounted to said plate member, the other of said magnets operatively connected to said stem in movable relation with said hous-l ing whereby said valve is normally closed by said mag: nets and allowed to open at a predetermined pressure setting, adjustable means operatively interconnecting said movable magnet to said stem for varying the pressure setting of said valve structure, expansible means including a sleeve mounted on said valve stem in substantial abutment therewith and said expansible means connected to said plate member whereby fluid flowing through said fluid end is precluded from seeping into said pressure end.

2. In a valve structure, a valve housing including a pressure setting end and a fluid end, a plate member mounted in the base of said pressure setting .end, said fluid end having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat formed about said outlet port and a valve to engage said valve seat, a valve stem connected to said valve and extending through said plate member into said pressure setting end, a pair of opposed magnets in said pressure setting end, one of said magnets rigidly mounted tosaid plate member, the other of said magnets operatively connected to said stem in movable relation with said housing whereby said valve is normally closed by said vmagnets and allowed to open at a predetermined pressure setting, adjustable means operatively interconnecting said movable magnet to said stem for varying the pressure setting of said valve structure, and expansible means including a sealing sleeve mounted on said valve stem in abutment therewith, an annular flange on one end of said sealing sleeve and attached at its perimeter to said plate member.

3. In a valve structure, a valve housing including a pressure setting end and a fluid end, a plate member mounted in the base of said pressure settingend, said fluid end having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a valve seat formed. about said outlet port and a valve to engage said valve seat, a valve stem connected to said valveand extending through said plate member into said pressure setting end, a pair of opposed magnets in said pressure setting end, one of said magnets rigidly mounted to said plate memher, the other of said magnets operatively connected to References pited in the file of this patent said stem in movable relation with said housing whereby said valve is normally closed by said magnets and al- UNITED STATES PATENTS lowed to open at a predetermined pressure setting, ad- 1,001,846 Harley 29, 1911 justable means operatively interconnecting said movable 5 1,933,085 Barchafd 3 1933 magnet to said stem for varying the pressure setting of ,02 ,057 OIdham Dec. 10, 1935 said valve structure, and expansible means including a 2,047,291 Rohlin July 14, 1936 sealing sleeve mounted on said valve stem in abutment 2,644,477 King July 7, 1953 therewith, an annular flange on one end of said sealing 2,644,664 Hansen July 7 1953 sleeve and engaging said housing and clamping means 10 2, 7,395 1 Feb. 2 95 for holding said flange in fluid tight engagement with the housing whereby fluid flowing through said fluid end FOREIGN PATENTS is precluded from seeping into said pressure end. 703,831 Great Britain Feb. 10, 1954 

